Newest Citizens Defy Rockets to Make Israel Home

TEL AVIV, Israel -- The conflict between Israel and Hamas hasn't stopped Jews from immigrating to Israel. Several hours ago, a plane full of North American Jews landed at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport.

This morning Ari Benjamin Pfeffer, his wife and four children from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, were among Israel's newest immigrants.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was at the airport to greet them.

"It's good to see you on any day, but it's especially good to see you on this day," Netanyahu told the nation's newest citizens.

Pfeffer and 230 people from the United States and Canada made aliyah, or immigrated to Israel under the Law of Return.

"It's very important for all Israelis and all Jews to understand that this is our homeland," Pfeffer told CBN News.

The youngest arrival today is 3 months old. The oldest is 89-year-old Barry Libman from Chicago.

CBN News asked him what it was like the moment he put his foot down on Israeli soil.

"Quite excited! Quite excited," he responded with obvious enthusiasm.

The former chief rabbi of Israel said their presence in the Jewish homeland is the answer to the ongoing rocket fire and conflict with Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip.

"Our victory is on the shoulders of these children, sons and daughters of Jacob, who came to build their home," Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, new serving as chief rabbi of Tel Aviv, said.

Max Kalber from Chicago is not only becoming a citizen, he's joining the Israeli military.

"The fact that the situation is not so great here, it just makes me…that's the reason why I'm coming," Kalber told CBN News. "It makes me wanna, makes me feel strong about what I am doing."

Each new immigrant gets a booklet entitled, "What's Next: A Guide To Your First Steps In Israel."

By the way, 26 of the new immigrants will be living in the southern Israeli cities of Ashkelon and Beersheva, the epicenter for so many of the rocket attack from Hamas.

Pfeffer's new home will be close to the Gaza border. But that doesn't scare him.

"We are not going anywhere, we are firm," Pfeffer said. "We are entrenched, this is our place, we are comfortable and you know, do what you will, but we're immovable."

The trip was co-sponsored by Nefesh B'Nefesh, a Jewish group that has helped more than 40,000 individuals settle in Israel. The group's leader says their efforts send an unmistakable message to the terrorists who want to destroy Israel.

"Enemies think that they can knock out the Jewish people, that they can destroy the Jewish people," Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, with Nefesh B'Nefesh, told CBN News. "They think they can deter the Jewish people and with all the rockets, not one single Jew cancelled their plans to move to Israel."